Semiconductor die having lead wires formed over a circuit in a shielded area

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor die including first, second, and third bond pads. The first and second bond pads are arranged in an outer periphery of the semiconductor die. The first bond pad receives a reference voltage potential through a first lead wire. A first via arranged in a substrate of the semiconductor die is connected between the first bond pad and an interconnecting layer. A second via arranged in the substrate is connected between the interconnecting layer and the second bond pad to provide the reference voltage potential to the second bond pad. The third bond pad is arranged in an interior portion of the semiconductor die and is connected to the second bond pad using a second lead wire to receive the reference voltage potential. A circuit is arranged in the interior portion between the second bond pad and the third bond pad below the second lead wire.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/601,442 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,637,975), filed Aug. 31, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/024,309 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,258,616), filed on Dec. 28, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/780,605 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,220) filed on Feb. 19, 2004, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/051,965 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,982), filed Jan. 16, 2002. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to power and signal distribution in semiconductor dies.

BACKGROUND

Many conventional semiconductors are mounted in packages such as Quad Flat Packs (QFPs) and Pin Ball Gate Arrays (PBGAs) in which the input and output terminals are arranged along the edge of the die. Arranging the terminals along the die edge may result in relatively long wirings on silicon to supply power and ground to the center of the die. These long wirings generally have a relatively high resistance leading to unacceptable IR voltage drops.

SUMMARY

An integrated circuit according to some implementations comprises a semiconductor die including N bond pad pairs each including a first bond pad and a second bond pad that is spaced from the first bond pad. N bond wires are provided, each associated with a respective one of the N bond pad pairs. Each of the bond wires has opposite ends that communicate with the first and second bond pads of a respective one of the N bond pad pairs. The first and second bond pads of the N bond pad pairs are connected to a reference potential and create a shielded area between the N bond pad pairs.

In other features, the bond wires comprise a metallic material selected from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, and copper. The bond wires are bonded to the first and second bond pads using a wire bond type selected from the group consisting of ball bonds, stitch bonds, stitch bonds on bonding pad, and stitch bonds on ball. An interconnecting layer in the semiconductor die is connected by vias to at least one of the first bond pads of at least one of the N bond pad pairs. The reference potential is ground.

In other features, an I/O bond pad is arranged on the semiconductor die. An I/O bond wire has one end that communicates with the lead finger and an opposite end that communicates with the reference potential.

A system comprises the integrated circuit and further comprises a lead finger that communicates with the reference potential and the opposite end of the I/O bond wire.

In still other features, an I/O bond pad directly contacts at least one of the first bond pads of at least one of the N bond pad pairs. The first bond pads of the N bond pad pairs contact each other.

In other features, an I/O bond pad is connected to a first via, which is connected by an interconnecting layer and a second via to at least one of the first bond pads of at least one of the N bond pad pairs.

In still other features, an I/O bond pad directly contacts at least one of the first bond pads of the N bond pad pairs. Remaining ones of the first bond pads are connected by vias and an interconnecting layer to the at least one of the first bond pads.

In other features, an I/O bond pad is connected to a first via, which is connected to by an interconnecting layer and a second via to at least one of the first bond pads of the N bond pad pairs. Remaining ones of the first bond pads are directly connected to the at least one of the first bond pads. A circuit is fabricated in the semiconductor die in the shielded area.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a two-dimensional top-view of a semiconductor device.

FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional side-view of a semiconductor device.

FIG. 3 is a two-dimensional side-view of a semiconductor device.

FIG. 4 is a two-dimensional side-view of a semiconductor device.

FIG. 5 is a two-dimensional top-view of a semiconductor device with a shielded area of a semiconductor die located between bond surfaces connected by bond wires according to some implementations.

FIG. 6 is a simplified and enlarged two-dimensional side-view of the semiconductor device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a two-dimensional top-view of a semiconductor device with a shielded area of a semiconductor die located between bond surfaces connected by bond wires according to some implementations.

FIG. 8 is a simplified and enlarged two-dimensional side-view of the semiconductor device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a two-dimensional top-view of a semiconductor device with a shielded area of a semiconductor die located between bond surfaces connected by bond wires according to some implementations.

FIG. 10 is a simplified and enlarged two-dimensional side-view of the semiconductor device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a two-dimensional top-view of an alternate semiconductor device of a semiconductor die with a shielded area between bond surfaces connected by bond wires according to some implementations.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a top-view of a semiconductor power distribution system and method. A semiconductor device 10 includes a semiconductor die 12 and several lead fingers 14 a-14 h. The semiconductor device 10 may be mounted in any suitable package such as QFPs and PBGAs.

The semiconductor die 12 includes bonding surfaces 16 arranged in an interior portion 18 of the semiconductor die 12 as well as along an outer periphery 20 of the semiconductor die 12. The bonding surfaces 16 are preferably bonding pads connected to traces in the semiconductor die 12. The bonding surfaces 16 provide connection points for lead wires 22 extending to other bonding surfaces 16 or lead fingers 14. Employing a lead wire 22 within the interior portion 18 may advantageously reduce the voltage drop caused by IR losses in a trace. In addition, a lead wire 22 may be used in place of a trace to reduce the density of traces within the semiconductor die 12. Using a lead wire 22 to couple electrical signals to internal portions of the semiconductor 12 may be particularly advantageous in high density semiconductors where using wide low resistance traces to carry the signal would require additional layers. In one example, a lead wire 22 may be connected in parallel with a trace in the semiconductor die 18 to reduce the combined resistance, thereby decreasing the voltage drop associated with the trace. In a second example, a lead wire 22 may be used in lieu of using a trace within the semiconductor die 18. In a third example, a lead wire may be connected from a bonding surface 16 located along one edge of the semiconductor periphery 20 to another bonding surface 16 located along another edge of the semiconductor periphery 20.

The lead wires 22 are bonded to different ones of the bonding surfaces 16 and/or lead finger 14 to provide low resistance connections for electrical signals such as power, ground, and signals. The lead wires 14 may comprise an electrically conductive material such as gold, aluminum, and copper that has a low electrical resistance. Each of the lead fingers 14 may be coupled to a bonding surface or remain as a non-connected lead finger 14 h. Any wire bonding method such as thermocompression and ultrasonic may be used to bond the lead wires 14 to the bonding surfaces 16 and lead fingers 14.

The lead wires 22 may be bonded using any wire bond type such as ball bond, stitch bond on bonding pad, and stitch bond on ball. A ball bond may be formed by first forming a sphere at the end of a lead wire. Then, the sphere is pressed against a bonding surface for a few seconds to form a weld. A stitch bond on bonding pad may be formed by placing the tail of a lead parallel to a bonding surface. Then, pressure is applied to the lead wire forcing the lead wire onto the bonding pad. A stitch bond on ball may be formed in similar manner to forming a stitch bond on bonding pad, except a ball is first formed on the bonding surface.

FIG. 2 shows another aspect of the semiconductor power distribution system. A lead wire 30 is connected in parallel with a trace 32 to reduce the electrical resistance of a connection between two bonding surfaces 34 a and 34 b. The lead wire 30 may be connected via a trace 36 to another lead wire 38 that is connected to a lead finger 40. The lead wire 30 reduces the voltage losses associated with the electrical resistance of the trace 32 by providing a parallel path for current.

FIG. 3 shows another aspect of the semiconductor power distribution system and method. A lead wire 50 is connected between two bonding surfaces 52 a and 52 b. The bonding surface 52 b is preferably located within an interior portion 62 of a semiconductor die 64. The lead wire 50 is used in lieu of a trace to carry electrical signals between the bonding surfaces 52 a and 52 b. The lead wire 50 may be coupled to the bonding surfaces 52 a and 52 b via a ball bond 54 and a stitch bond on ball 56 respectively. Another lead wire 58 may connect the bonding surface 52 a to a lead finger 60 so that signals may be coupled between the lead finger 60 and the interior portion 62 of the semiconductor die 64 without traversing within the semiconductor die 64.

FIG. 4 shows another aspect of the semiconductor power distribution system and method similar to that shown in FIG. 2 in function with corresponding elements numbered in the range 70 to 80, except that the lead wire 70 is connected at bonding surface 74 b with a stitch on pad type of bond.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a two-dimensional top-view of a semiconductor device 10 is shown. The semiconductor device 10 includes one or more shielded areas 100 that are located between bonding surfaces 16B-1, 16B-2, . . . and 16B-N (collectively bonding surfaces 16B) in the outer periphery 20 and bonding surfaces 16C-1, 16C-2, . . . and 16C-N (collectively bonding surfaces 16C) in the inner portion 18.

Bonding surfaces 16A are associated with input/output connections to lead fingers 14 as previously described above, although other methods of connecting the reference potential may be used. The shielded areas 100 are located between bonding pads 16B and 16C that are connected by bond wires 104-1, 104-2, . . . , and 104-N (collectively bond wires 104). As can be appreciated, while a generally rectangular shielded area 100 is shown in FIG. 5, the shielded area 100 can have any other suitable shape or size.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a side view of the semiconductor device 10 is shown. Ground or another reference potential is connected to one or more lead fingers 14. One or more input/output (I/O) bond wires 118 connect the lead fingers 118 to the bonding surfaces 16A. One or more vias 120 connect the bonding surfaces 16A to one or more interconnecting layers 122. One or more vias 124 connect the one or more interconnecting layers 122 to bonding surfaces 16B. As can be appreciated, the interconnecting layers and additional vias can optionally be used to provide a connection to bonding surfaces 16C. Still other approaches may be used to supply ground or another reference potential to the bonding surfaces 16B and 16C. As can be appreciated by skilled artisans, the shielded areas 100 have reduced interference and/or crosstalk as compared to unshielded areas. Therefore, one or more circuits 130 may be fabricated in the shielded areas 100. For example, the circuits 130 may be particularly sensitive to interference and/or crosstalk.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the use of vias and interconnecting layers between the I/O pad 16A and the bonding surfaces 16B can be omitted if ground or another reference potential is directly connected to the bonding surfaces 16B as shown. In other words, at least one of the bonding surfaces 16A that is connected to the reference potential is directly connected to one or more of the bonding surfaces 16B as shown at 16E. One or more of the remaining bonding surfaces 16B are connected by vias 130 and interconnecting layer 132 as shown and/or using additional direct connections, bond wires or other connection types.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the use of vias and interconnecting layers can be omitted and/or used in other ways if ground or another reference potential is directly connected by the I/O bonding surface 16A to the bonding pads 16B and the bonding surfaces 16B are also directly connected as shown. While several examples of vias and direct connections are shown in FIGS. 5-10, skilled artisans will appreciate that any other combination of vias and/or direct connections can be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11, the shielded area 100 may have a variety of shapes. For example, the shielded area 100 can have a rectangular shape as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9. The shielded area 100 can also have a stair-step shape as shown in FIG. 11 and/or any other shape can be used.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor die, comprising: a first bond pad, arranged in an outer periphery of the semiconductor die, connected to a first lead wire, wherein the first bond pad is configured to receive a reference voltage potential through the first lead wire; a second bond pad arranged in the outer periphery of the semiconductor die, between the first bond pad and an interior portion of the semiconductor die, such that the second bond pad is arranged inside of the first bond pad relative to the interior portion of the semiconductor die; a first via arranged in a substrate of the semiconductor die, wherein the first via is connected between the first bond pad and an interconnecting layer in the substrate of the semiconductor die; a second via arranged in the substrate of the semiconductor die, wherein the second via is connected between the interconnecting layer and the second bond pad such that the reference voltage potential, received by the first bond pad, is provided to the second bond pad through the first bond pad, the first via, and the second via; a third bond pad arranged in the interior portion of the semiconductor die, wherein the third bond pad is connected to the second bond pad using a second lead wire, and wherein the third bond pad is configured to receive the reference voltage potential through the second lead wire; and a circuit arranged in the interior portion of the semiconductor die, the circuit arranged between the second bond pad and the third bond pad below the second lead wire.
 2. The semiconductor die of claim 1, wherein a portion of the semiconductor die between the second bond pad and the third bond pad below the second lead wire corresponds to a shielded area.
 3. The semiconductor die of claim 2, wherein upper surfaces of the semiconductor die and the shielded area are coplanar.
 4. The semiconductor die of claim 2, wherein the shielded area is one of rectangular and stair-step shaped.
 5. The semiconductor die of claim 2, wherein interference and/or crosstalk in the shielded area is less than interference and/or crosstalk in portions of the semiconductor die that do not include the shielded area.
 6. The semiconductor die of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage potential is ground.
 7. The semiconductor die of claim 1, further comprising a fourth bond pad, arranged in the outer periphery of the semiconductor die, connected to a third lead wire, wherein the fourth bond pad is configured to receive the reference voltage potential, through the third lead wire, from a second lead external to the semiconductor die; a fifth bond pad arranged in the outer periphery of the semiconductor die; a third via arranged in the substrate of the semiconductor die, wherein the third via is connected between the fourth bond pad and the interconnecting layer in the substrate of the semiconductor die; a fourth via arranged in the substrate of the semiconductor die, wherein the fourth via is connected between the interconnecting layer and the fifth bond pad such that the reference voltage potential is provided to the fifth bond pad through the fourth bond pad, the third via, and the fourth via; and a sixth bond pad arranged in the interior portion of the semiconductor die, wherein the sixth bond pad is connected to the fifth bond pad using a fourth lead wire, and wherein the sixth bond pad is configured to receive the reference voltage potential through the fourth lead wire.
 8. The semiconductor die of claim 1, wherein each of the first bond pad, the second bond pad, and the third bond pad includes at least one of a ball bond, a stitch bond, a stitch bond on a bond pad, and a stitch bond on a ball.
 9. The semiconductor die of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage potential is substantially constant.
 10. The semiconductor die of claim 1, wherein each of the first lead wire and the second lead wire comprises a metallic material including at least one of gold, aluminum, and copper.
 11. The semiconductor die of claim 1, wherein the first bond pad is configured to receive the reference voltage potential through the first lead wire from a first lead external to the semiconductor die. 